Le Jeune: Le Printemps

Le Jeune: Le Printemps
Ensemble Jacques Feuillie
Arion 268316 (2 CDs)

Contents:

    Mode I

  1. Voicy du gay printemps (a 4)
  2. Revesi venir du Printans (a 5, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  3. La Bel' Aronde (a 6, 4)
  4. Mode II

  5. Quand le soleil se vient lever (a 3, 5)
  6. Ce n'est que fiel, ce n'est qu'amer (a 3, 5)
  7. Bien fol est qui perd le sens (a 3, 5)
  8. Le chant de l'alouette (a 5)
  9. Mode III

  10. Voice le verd é beau may (a 4, 6)
  11. Brunelette, joliette, m'amourette (a 3, 5)
  12. Ô rôze reine des flers (a 2, 3, 4, 5)
  13. Francine, rozine, nimphète (a 4, 6)
  14. Le chant du rossignol (a 5)
  15. Ma mignonne, je me plains (a 4, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
  16. Mode IV

  17. Je l'ay, je l'ay la belle fleur (a 3, 5)
  18. Mes yeux ne cesseront 'i point (a 3, 5)
  19. Dame je viens fer' homag' à ta beauté (a 3, 5)
  20. Mode V

  21. Cigne je suis de candeur (a 3, 5)
  22. À sa chut' i se va déjeter (a 3, 5)
  23. Perdre le sens devant vous (a 3, 5)
  24. Mode VII

  25. Vivre tout pensif, défant, é dépit (a 3, 5)
  26. Laisse faire, laisse faire (a 3, 5)
  27. Je soupirois é je plorois (a 3, 5)
  28. Mode VIII

  29. À l'aid', à l'aid, élas, élas! (a 3, 5)
  30. Le bandoulier vole l'argent (a 3, 5)
  31. Quiconq' l'amour noma l'amour (a 4)
  32. Mode IX

  33. La brunelette violette reflorit (a 3, 5)
  34. L'un émera le violet (a 3, 5)
  35. Si Jupiter s'avizait (a 5, 4)
  36. Patourelles joliètes (a 3, 5)
  37. Mode X

  38. D'un coeur fier le refus cruel (a 3, 5)
  39. Que nul' étoile sur nous (a 3, 5)
  40. Tu peux de moy te paser (a 3, 5)
  41. Mode XI

  42. Du trist' hyver la rigoureuse glace (a 5)
  43. Cez amoureux n'ont que douleur (a 3, 5)
  44. D'une coline m'i promenant (a 3, 5)
  45. Je ne say qui te meut (a 3, 5)
  46. Doucète, sucrine, toute de miel (a 3, 5)
  47. Mode XII

  48. La bèle gloire, le bel honer (a 4, 6)
  49. Amour, quand fûs-tu né? (a 7)

Performers: Marie-Claire Cottin (soprano), Hélène de Luze (mezzo-soprano), Pierre Bonniffet (tenor), Charles Whitfield (baritone), Jacques Feuillie (bass), Geneviève Krier-France (mezzo-soprano), Blanche Marteline (soprano), Gabriel Colomiès (tenor), Corentin Pavie (baritone)

Playing time: 130'

Recording date: 1976; re-released: 1995

This is Le Jeune's most famous work -- a cycle of chansons on texts of Antoine de Baïf (with two framing madrigals on tests of Philippe Desportes), making intricate use of the musique mesurée à l'antique rhythmic style. This style was advocated by Baïf and largely developed by Le Jeune; it provides a rhythmically intricate alternative to the typical homophonic declamation of the era. The cycle may not have originally conceived as such; at any rate, it is organized by mode.

Frequently, different formal sections of the songs are set for different numbers of parts; these indications are given parenthetically above. Item #7 is originally by Clément Janequin in four parts; the 5th part is added by Le Jeune. The text of the first stanza is anonymous; the second stanza is by Guillaume Salluste Du Bartas and is set entirely by Le Jeune. Item #12 is also by Janequin with a part added by Le Jeune, followed by an extra stanzas.

The present recording is a classic (Grand Prix du Disque 1976); the vocal style is heavy on vibrato & using modern pronunciation, and so largely at odds with current practice. Although it is a little hard on the modern ear, the commitment is evident.

The liner notes are dense and extremely informative. As much as anything, Feuillie implores other musicians to take up Le Jeune's music for its inherent value.

Another recording devoted to Le Jeune by the present ensemble:

Le Jeune: Octonaires de la vanité du monde
Ensemble Jacques Feuillie
Arion 58466

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Todd M. McComb